MEDA leaves legacy in Nicaragua through Produmer

MEDA staff in Nicaragua gathered recently for a bittersweet milestone, marking the end of the Produmer project, but the beginning of a new cooperative that hopes to carry on that work.

Since 2005, Produmer has provided more than 1,600 sesame producers with technical assistance in production, processing and marketing. MEDA's work has strengthened the linkages between exporters and farmer groups and helped to raise the prices paid to farmers by promoting competition among exporters to break up local monopolies.

The technical assistance provided to farmers has helped to significantly raise productivity and incomes, resulting in a 135% increase in incomes per manzana (about 1.8 acres) among project clients, and a 250% increase in the use of environmental technologies.

The project has worked hard to bring together the different actors of the supply chain –
seed producers, farmers, exporters, relevant government bodies and NGOs – to discuss issues affecting the sesame industry and to develop strategies for the industry as a whole, so the sector becomes stronger and more competitive.

Produmer has worked to improve the quality of seeds available to farmers, and by working closely with exporters, Nicaraguan sesame is now more highly regarded in the international marketplace and enjoys increased demand.

The Enjambre cooperative, formed by ex-Produmer staff, is aimed at maintaining the knowledge gained over the past four years so that sesame farmers can continue to learn and profit from improved farming practices.

Sesame farmer learns new methods through Produmer

Francisca Hernandez Juarez, together with her family in El Sauce, has produced sesame since childhood. After three years with Produmer, she has taken full advantage of the help she received. Francisca has participated in reforestation initiatives and now grows vegetables throughout the dry season with the help of drip irrigation, training she received through Produmer.

Francisca is making attempts to convert to organic production, but says the process is long. But the alternative, she says, is worse. Not only are the pesticides expensive, but they are also harmful to people and the environment.
She participated in conservation agriculture (CA) demonstration plots, and now, as a part of a local cooperative, they are working out how they will afford CA equipment.

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